Lock



Feb. 2, 1965 J. SCHREIBER ETAL 3,167,943

Locx

Filed March 19, 1962 EDLE INVENTORS 25M/f fcmef/f BY @fo/f imac/5f@ @QW/ f). fiaba ATTORNEY United States Patent thee 3,157,943 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,167,943 LUCK Joseph Schreiber, 18507 Ferrer, and George Schreiber, 18493 Winthrop, both of Detroit, Mich. Filed Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,596 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-358) This invention relates in general to locking mechanisms and more particularly to improvements in cylinder tumbler locks and keys adapted to the operation thereof.

Tumbler locks hitherto available offer only a limited number of possible coding combinations. They aiford limited protection because the limited number of available combinations results in the always present danger of locks capable of being unlocked by keys belonging to strangers.

The saw-tooth type of key, designed to cooperate with tumbler locks well-known in the art, is fragile, easily bent or broken. Due to the sharp edges of its saw teeth, it causes damage to loose objects in a pocket or purse and can even tear the material lining a pocket or purse. A saw-tooth key is difficult to insert in a key-hole as it can be inserted only in a given position because the key-hole is actually a slot. No anterior art lock is really pickproof because of the limited number of possible combinations and the resulting limited number of pins or tumblers.

The saw-tooth type of key is subject to also another inconvenience: the sharp edges of the saw teeth are prone to wear and may be easily damaged to such an amount that a key may, with time, become unable to unlock a lock for which it was originally coded or cut A principal object of the present invention is therefore to provide a locking mechanism affording a means of greatly increased possible combinations resulting in positive protection and decreasing greatly the potential risk of too many keys capable of tting a given lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cylinder pin-tumbler lock using a key that is not subject to be easily damaged or to cause damage to objects rubbing against it in a pocket or a purse, and which is not prone to pierce or deteriorate the lining of said pocket or purse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock aifording greatly increased protection over Vthe previous art by being practically pick-proof due to its greatly increased number of pin-tumbler assemblies.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lock operable by a key which is readily insertable into the keyhole, and which is not susceptible to be bent or twisted out of shape.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a lock which is adaptable to many applications, which can be manufacturedat low cost and by simple methods and which is readily interchangeable with existing cylinder locks.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cylinder pin-tumbler lock which is substantially shorter than previous art locks of a given combination, or alternately to provide a cylinder tumbler lock of a given combination which is much shorter than equivalent previous art lock.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal partial cross sectional view of a cylinder pin-tumbler lock constructed according to the principles of the present invention, with a key corresponding to the appropriate lock combination inserted therein;

FIGURE 2 is a transversal cross sectional view along line 2-2 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE l, but showing a modification of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES l and 2 thereof, the cylinder pin-tumbler lock of the invention is shown as comprising a cylindrical plug 10 coaxially and rotatably mounted in the longitudinal bore 12 of a substantially cylindrical barrel or housing 14. The plug 10 has a coaxial cylindrical bore, or key-hole, 16 for insertion therein of the shank 18 of a key 29.

The plug 10 is provided on one end with a shoulder 22 abutting against an undercut 24 in the housing, in order to prevent longitudinal motion in one direction of `the plug relatively to the housing. The plug 10 is prevented from iongitudinal motion in the Aother direction by means of a groove 26 cut on the periphery of the plug at its other end, and into which penetrates the conforming end of a pin 28 disposed in a radial bore 30 in the housing. A coil spring 32 biases the pin 2S for bottorning of -its end into the groove 26. Several such pins thus disposed in appropriate radial bores in the housing may be used if so desired, although one pin is generally suiiicient to hold the plug-housing assembly securely together.

The housing 14 has a plurality of radial bores 34-42, substantially in a row as shown and normally peripherally closed by a removable cover plate 43. The plug 10 has an equal number of corresponding radial bores 441-52, normally having their axes aligned with the bores 34-42. In bores 34-42 of the housing are disposed tumblers S4-62 biased toward the centerline of the plug-housing assembly by means of coil springs 64-72. In bores 44-52 of the plug are disposed shouldered pins 74-82, which are provided with reduced diameter portions 84-92 capable of projecting a predetermined distance within the longitudinal bore 16 of the plug through the reduced portions 94402 of bores Liti-52 respectively. The pins are also normally biased toward the center line of the lock assembly by the action of the springs 64-72 being transmitted to the pins by Way of the tumblers.

Tumbiers 5ft-62 are all of equal length. Shouldered pins 7d-82 have bodies of varied lengths corresponding to a predetermined code. With no key shank in the plug bore 16, the tumblers push the pin-s until their shoulders abut against the bottom of the bores 454-52. This action enables the tumblers to penetrate part of the way into the bores i4-52 of the plug, thus preventing the plug from eing rotated in relation to the housing 14. l

When the shank 13 of 1a key such as key 2.0 is introduced in the bore 16 of the plug, shallow substantially concave depressions on the surface of the shank, identitied by numerals 104, 10d, 108 and 110, are engaged by the rounded ends of the reduced portions of the pins. In the example shown in FIGURE 1, the key shank lhas no depression corresponding to the end of reduced portion 84 of pin 74, which therefore bears directly on the shank surface.

Another set of pin-tumbler assemblies may be disposed at 180 `from the above described set of .pin-tumbler assemblies, and such is shown in `FIGURES l and 2 where the second set of pin-tumbler assemblies is generally 'designated by `numerals 124i. A Athird and `a fourth sets 130 and 140 (FIGURE 2), may also be disposed with the axes of their pin-tumbler assemblies in a .plane at a angle with the plane of the :axes of the iirst and second sets. The key shank has evidently a row of shallow depressions of varied depths for each one of such set or row of pin-tumbler assemblies.

The varied depths of the shallow depressions on the key shank 1S correspond to and compensate .for the varied lengths of the pins in `order to bring the surfaces of contact of the `tumblers and pins substantially in a plane along the cylindrical shear surface between Ithe housing 14 and the plug Iii, the cylindrical shear surface corresponding to the bore '.12 in the housing. T he pins being thus lifted to the shear' cylindrical surface, the plug is made free to rotate in relation tto the housing, and rotating the key A causes tab y112. of the key, introduced into a slot 1-14- in the end of the bor-e 16 in the plug, to drive the plug for rotary morti-on in relation to the housing.

Y Inl the example of FIGURES 1-2 a total -number of 20 pin-tumbler assemblies has been shown. It is evident that such la number of pin-tumbler assemblies permits coding combinations amounting to billions and affords great protection by insuring that no two lock combinations would be the same. Y

Also in lthe example of FIGURES 1-2, the end of the plug 10 is shown driving a gear "142 which in :turn drives a gear 144 mounted for rotation around a pin 146 threaded, pressed or otherwise lfastened in the housing 14. A lever 148, integral with the gear 144 or otherwise atlixe'd thereto for rotation thereby, normally actuates a bolt, not shown, to unfasten a door, chest, lid, drawer, etc., associated with the locking mechanism.

It is evident that the latch or bolt mechanism is no part of the present invention and' the plug of the invention can be adapted to drive any type of commercially available latch or bolt mechanism, one such type of drive being represented by numeral 340 of FIGURE 3.

The embodiment of FIGURE 3 illustrates a cylinder lock, according to the teaching of the invention, which is similar to the embodiment of FIGURES 1-2, with the difference that only one radially disposed pin-tumbler assembly 3'10 is used, instead of the ylive assemblies in each row as shown in FIGURES 1-2. Several such pin-tumbler assemblies can be radially disposed as indicated generally by numerals 320 and 330. This arrangement provides for a wafer-like cylinder lock of short overall length which may be disposed in relatively thin panels. Four or more such pin-tumbler assemblies permit a reasonable number of combinations.

It is obvious that locking mechanisms having any number of pin-tumbler assemblies in each radial row can be produced to conform with any panel thickness and to provide any number of combinations, and such is contemplated as being one of the advantages of the present invention.

It is also obvious that the invention is not to be limited to the specic embodiments as herein illustrated and described, but may be used in other Ways without departing from its spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed as new is:

`1. A locking mechanism comprising Iin combination: a substantially cylindrical stationary barrel-like housing having a cylindrical longitudinal .axial bore extending from end to end; a cylindrical plug rotatably and coaxially disposed in said bore in said housing; said plug having a cylindrical longitudinal coaxial bore open .at one end and closed at the other end; a shoulder on the peripheral surface of said plug situate coaxially the open end of Said plug; a correspondingly enlarged diameter portion on the longitudinal bore of said housing; :a circular groove on the peripheral surface of the other end of said plug; a slidable pin disposed in said housing and biased toward the axis of said housing for forcing the end of said pin to abut against the bottm Qf seid groove fOT Swfey 4 maintaining said plug within t-he longitudinal bore of said housing Whilst still allowing rotation of said plug in relation to said housing; at least one row of first radial bores in said housing; second radial bores in said plug normally vaxially aligned Y.with said first radial bores and having a -main diameter portion substantially equal to the diameter of said rlirst radial bores and a reduced diameter portion leading into the -coaxial bore in said plug;

' a tumbler in each said iirst Iradial bore; a pin in each said second radial bore, each pin having a reduced diameter portion with a hemispherical end adapted to normally Iproject Within fthe'coaxial bore in said plug through the reduced diameter portion of said second radial bore j anda plunality of said pins having varied body lengths according to a predetermined code; coil springs normally urging said tumblers and their' corresponding pins to- Wards the common axis of said housing and plug, and forcing said tumblers part of the way into said second j radial bores offan amount determined by the length of the enlarged 4body portion of [the corresponding pin, for normally locking said plug and said housing together; a

removable cover plate covering each vrow of said first` radial bores in said housing and normally maintaining i said coil springs under compression; a key having a substantially cylindrical shank portion adapted to be introduced all the Iway into the coaxial bore in said plug; depressions on the surface of said shank vaccording to saidpredetermined code for lifting said pins of an amount f corresponding to their respective varied body lengths t0 cause the abutting surfaces of said tumblers and pins to be aligned with the adjoining ends of said rst and second radial bores for unlocking said plug from said housing; and a tab integral with said shank for introduction into a slot in the open end of the coaxial bore in said plug forl rotatably driving said plugin relation to said housing.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein said housing, plug and key are of substantially short over-all l lengths and said tumblers and pins are disposed Substantially in a circular radial row.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein a rst gear is fastened to the outer surface of the closed end of saidplug for rotation thereby; a secondgear meshes with said rst gear and is rotatable around a shaft anixed to said housing; and a lever is fastened to said second geat for actuation thereby for the purpose of driving a latching mechanism when said key is rotated.

Referencesv Cited by the Examinerv UNITED' STATES PATENTS ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner, 

1. A LOCKING MECHANISM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL STATIONARY BARREL-LIKE HOUSING HAVING A CYLINDRICAL LONGITUDINAL AXIAL BORE EXTENDING FROM END TO END; A CYLINDRICAL PLUG ROTATABLE AND COAXIALLY DISPOSED IN SAID BORE IN SAID HOUSING; SAID PLUG HAVING A CYLINDRICAL LONGITUDINAL COAXIAL BORE OPEN AT ONE END AND CLOSED AT THE OTHER END; A SHOULDER ON THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID PLUT SITUATE COAXIALLY THE OPEN END OF SAID PLUG, A CORRESPONDINGLY ENLARGED DIAMETER PORTION ON THE LONGITUDINAL BORE OF SAID HOUSING; A CIRCULAR GROOVE ON THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE OTHER END OF SAID PLUG; A SLIDABLE PIN DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING AND BIASED TOWARD THE AXIS OF SAID HOUSING FOR FORCING THE END OF SAID PIN TO ABUT AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF SAID GROOVE FOR SECURELY MAINTAINING SAID PLUG WITHIN THE LONGITUDINAL BORE OF SAID HOUSING WHILST STILL ALLOWING ROTATION OF SAID PLUG IN RELATION OF SAID HOUSING; AT LEAST ONE ROW OF FIRST RADIAL BORES IN SAID HOUSING; SECOND RADIAL BORES IN SAID PLUG NORMALLY AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID FIRST RADIAL BORES AND HAVING A MAIN DIAMETER PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID FIRST RADIAL BORE AND A REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION LEADING INTO THE COAXIAL BORE IN SAID PLUG; A TUMBLER IN EACH OF FIRST RADIAL BORE; A PIN IN EACH SAID SECOND RADIAL BORE, EACH PIN HAVING A REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION WITH A HEMISPHERICAL END ADAPTED TO NORMALLY PROJECT WITHIN THE COAXIAL BORE IN SAID PLUG THROUGH THE REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION OF SAID SECOND RADIAL BORE AND A PLURALITY OF SAID PINS HAVING VARIED BODY LENGTHS ACCORDING TO A PREDETERMINED CODE; COIL SPRINGS NORMALLY URGING SAID TUMBLERS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING PINS TOWARDS THE COMMON AXIS OF SAID HOUSING AND PLUG, AND FORCING SAID TUMBLERS PART OF THE WAY INTO SAID SECOND RADIAL BORE OF AN AMOUNT DETERMINED BY THE LENGTH OF THE ENLARGED BODY PORTION OF THE CORRESPONSING PIN, FOR NORMALLY LOCKING SAID PLUG AND SAID HOUSING TOGETHER; A REMOVABLE COVER PLATE COVERING EACH ROW OF SAID FIRST RADIAL BORES IN SAID HOUSING AND NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID COIL SPRINGS UNDER COMPRESSION; A KEY HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SHANK PORTION ADAPTED TO BE INTRODUCED ALL THE WAY INTO THE COAXIAL BORE IN SAID PLUG; DEPRESSIONS ON THE SURFACE OF SAID SHANK ACCORDING TO SAID PREDETERMINED CODE FOR LIFTING SAID PINS OF AN AMOUNT CORRESPONDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE VARIED BODY LENGTHS TO CAUSE THE ABUTTING SURFACES OF SAID TUMBLERS AND PINS TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE ADJOINING ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND RADIAL BORES FOR UNLOCAKING SAID PLUG FROM SAID HOUSING; AND A TAB INTEGRAL WITH SAID SHANK FOR INTRODUCTION INTO A SLOT IN THE OPEN END OF THE COAXIAL BORE IN SAID PLUG FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING SAID PLUG IN RELATION TO SAID HOUSING. 